From the San Jose airport we will travel through the Braulio Carrillo National Park to the Sarapiqui area, known for its abundant wildlife sightings. Our hotel is in the heart of the humid tropical forest. After allowing time to settle into our hotel and look around, we will have an incredible first dinner together in Costa Rica.

Today we have the white water rafting trip on a river that stretches its way through lush vegetation that is home to sloths, toucans, iguanas and woodpeckers. After a long day, we will check into our hotel overlooking the Arenal Volcano, one of Costa Rica’s most active volcanoes. We will relax and rejuvenate ourselves in the natural hot springs, warmed from the heat of the volcano, of the area. There are a variety of ways to experience the hot springs, such as sitting beneath one of the many waterfalls.

One of the best ways to gain access to the wild areas of Costa Rica is by water, and today’s destination is the Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge near the Nicaraguan border.  A boat ride on the Frio River will take us through the refuge.  The reserve includes a great variety of resident and migratory birds (including the largest display of waterfowl in the country) along with three species of monkeys, iguanas, turtles, sloths and caimans in this rich habitat. Back in La Fortuna at the base of Arenal Volcano, you will enjoy the afternoon shopping and dining among the locals.

This morning we will visit La Fortuna Waterfall, which offers some of the most gorgeous scenery in all of Costa Rica. The 210-foot ribbon of water falls into a great swimming hole, surrounded by a lush tropical forest. Downstream from the waterfall you can enjoy a more relaxing dip in calmer waters. After lunch you will be able to play Tarzan as you zip through the treetops on the canopy ride with 150-foot high zip lines. This is a perfect combination of adrenaline, adventure and nature that offers one of the most impressive views of the rain forest and the Arenal Volcano.

One more day in paradise! After breakfast overlooking the majesty of Arenal Volcano, we’ll be on our way to the small quaint village of Monteverde, making a stop by Arenal Lake to marvel in the amazing view. The Monteverde Cloud Forest is truly an incredible place with exotic wildlife inhabiting hundreds of acres of virgin forest. It contains an extremely high biological diversity, including over 2,500 plant species (among them 420 different kinds of orchids), 100 species of mammals, 400 bird species and 120 reptilian and amphibian species. After lunch we will visit the Monteverde Butterfly Garden. This biodiversity center displays a variety of insects and arachnids local to Monteverde, many of them live, allowing visitors an up-close and personal experience. The center also provides information about breeding, feeding and habitats, live bug cams, and a case for viewing butterflies as they emerge from their cocoons.

This morning we will have the opportunity to visit the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve. Wind-sculptured elfin woodlands on the exposed ridges are spectacular, whereas protected cove Monteverde rainforests have majestically tall trees festooned with orchids, bromeliads, ferns, vines, and mosses. The variable climate and large altitudinal gradient has helped produce an extremely high biodiversity. Spectacular wildlife includes ocelots, Baird´s tapirs, three-wattled bellbirds, bare- necked umbrella birds and the famous elusive resplendent Quetzal. We will explore the cloud forest at our own pace.

After leaving Monteverde, we will continue on to visit the Pacific Coast. On the way we will observe how the cloud forest turns into dry forest. As the land and air are different, flora and fauna also change. Trees are smaller and the forest is more open; everything changes in less than 40 miles. Once at the beachfront hotel, we will have the day to relax on the beach and enjoy the sunset view over the Pacific Ocean.